The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, in cooperation with the Federal Bar Associations of North Louisiana, Lafayette-Acadiana, and Central Louisiana, has established a Civil Pro Bono Panel. This Panel began as a one-year pilot program on January 1, 2019, pursuant to a Resolution adopted by the Judges of the Court. It was extended through December 2025, and on December 19, 2025, the Civil Pro Bono Appointment Plan was made permanent.
During the operation of the Civil Pro Bono Appointment Plan, the Program Coordinator will compile a list of attorneys who are willing to undertake pro bono representation of pro se inmates in civil matters. Prospective pro bono attorneys will be included on a list of panel members, creating the Civil Pro Bono Panel, from which appointments will be made by the assigned Magistrate Judges of the Court.
The Civil Pro Bono Panel will serve several important purposes. First, the provision of legal services to pro se inmates pursuing civil claims will assist this Court in justly and efficiently administering its docket. Second, the Civil Pro Bono Panel will provide attorneys with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in federal litigation, up to and including participation in a jury trial.
The Judiciary seeks for the Civil Pro Bono Panel: licensed attorneys, admitted to practice and in good standing in the Western District, with current and adequate malpractice insurance, willing to represent pro se inmates in civil matters. Generally, these matters are civil rights claims brought by inmates and pretrial detainees under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which challenge the conditions of confinement or the use of force.
According to the Civil Pro Bono Appointment Plan, pro bono assignments will be made only after dispositive motions have been resolved and the matter is likely to proceed to trial or settlement. Once a case is ready for trial, the Program Coordinator will determine if the case satisfies the parameters established by the Plan that warrant assignment of pro bono counsel. The Court will send a request for pro bono representation to all panel members, and panel members will be provided with PACER access at no cost for a period of 30 days to review the pleadings in the subject case. If, after reviewing the case filings, a panel member wishes to volunteer to represent the pro se inmate in the subject case, the panel member should indicate his/her willingness to accept a pro bono assignment by replying to the Court via the link provided in the request for pro bono representation notification. The Magistrate Judge assigned to the matter will then appoint counsel among the panel members expressing a willingness and interest in accepting the pro bono assignment.
The Court will make its video conferencing facilities available to any attorney who accepts an assignment for the purposes of facilitating attorney-client communications and trial preparation of witnesses.
Volunteer attorneys who accept pro bono assignments are eligible for reimbursement of costs and expenses in an amount up to $2,500, and for attorney’s fees in an amount up to $5,000. Reimbursements will be made only upon motion and order by the Court.
Forms for the Motions and Orders supporting this program, including an application to be appointed to the panel and requests for reimbursement, can be found at the links below.
Civil Pro Bono Appointment Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Sample Order Granting Motion to Appoint Counsel
Sample Order of Appointment
Fillable Forms: